#GoRedGetFit To Stay Heart Healthy This Summer

Welcome to the unofficial start of summer! The American Heart Association and Macy’s are kicking off the second annual #GoRedGetFit, an online fitness challenge for women to motivate us to make lifestyle changes through health and fitness challenges.

It is estimated that 44 million women are affected by cardiovascular diseases, with 90% of all women having one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. We have a high risk for stroke than men; Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than Caucasian women, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for African- American women. The stats are clear- Hispanic and African American women must take action to stay heart healthy, but it’s not just about weight loss, it’s about getting heart healthy.

This year’s #GoRedGetFit campaign is being led by Scott Parker, who has trained celebrities like Niecy Nash and Jill Scott.

Participants are challenged to “Pep Your Step for Good” by logging 10,000 steps a day, getting their cholesterol checked and talking to their doctors about what the numbers mean. See where you are and then identify where in your daily life you can find space to get more steps,” says Scott Parker, health and fitness trainer and national spokesperson for #GoRedGetFit. “You might not make 10,000 steps each day. I don’t. That’s okay; just try to be more active the next day. It’s about being accountable.”

Additional challenges include: dditional challenges are:

“Glisten Up and Get Lean” (July – September): Get three days of strength and resistance training exercises as part of your 150 minutes per week (or 30 minutes, five days per week) of exercise and eat healthy sources of protein like more lean meat and nuts, less red meat.

“It Takes Two to Tango” (October – December): Get 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (30 minutes a day, five days per week) and focus on reading and understanding food labels.

“She Got Moves” (January – March): Select from any of the previous physical activity quarterly challenges, 150 minutes per week (or 30 minutes, five days per week), and make a weekly meal plan to keep meals healthy, balanced and well proportioned.

#GoRedGetFit is an initiative of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women program with 12-week challenges that offer women a platform with guidance and educational tools. As the founding national sponsor of Go Red For Women, Macy’s has helped to raise more than $55 million for the cause since 2004. For more information about #GoRedGetFit visit www.GoRedForWomen.org/GoRedGetFit/. To join the online challenge now, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoRedGetFit/, login to your personal Facebook account, search for #GoRedGetFit and click on the “Join” button.

The American Heart Association recommends all adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol, and other traditional risk factors checked every four to six years.